Petunia x calibrachoa plant named &#39;dancali3 &#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petuniax Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DANCALI3 ’ is disclosed, characterized by having a distinctive large, bright pink, glossy flowers, and a trailing plant habit. The new variety is a  Petunia sensu Wijsman×Calibrachoa llave  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia sensu Wijsman×Calibrachoa llave

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCALI3 ’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Pe-277.’ The pollen parent is theunpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Calibrachoallave ‘CA793.’ The new variety was discovered in March 2008 by theinventor in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing, in acommercial greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3 ’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in March 2008 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANCALI3 ’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANCALI3 ’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANCALI3 ’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

1. Distinctive bright pink flower color.

2. Very large flowers.

3. Glossy surface texture of flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3 ’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Pe-277’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3’ producelarger flowers, of a darker pink and plants with more branches.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3 ’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Calibrachoa llave ‘CA-793’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3’ producebright pink flowers, whereas the pollen parent produces white flowers.Additionally, the new variety produces larger flowers than the pollenparent, and branches less.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCALI3 ’ are comparable to the variety‘DANCALIPET,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,063. The two varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics, however, the new variety‘DANCALI3’ differs in having a larger flower, in a solid pink colorwhereas ‘DANCALIPET’ has a dark pink/purple flower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANCALI3 ’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 16 cm basket.Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rootedcutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloomof ‘DANCALI3 .’ The photographs were taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANCALI3 ’ plants grown outdoors duringAutumn in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature rangedfrom 20° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. duringthe night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight, withsome shade during the brightest part of the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia sensu Wijsman×Calibrachoa llave    ‘DANCALI3. ’-   Propagation:-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 to 14 days at approximately 18-30°    C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.-   Plant:-   Growth habit: Trailing.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 30 days from a rooted cutting.-   Height:    -   -   To top of flowers.—Approximately 7 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 20 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Very well-branched.-   Characteristics of lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 15.        -   Length.—Approximately 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Flexible.-   Internode length: Approximately 1 to 2.5 cm.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Aspect.—90° from stem.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 139A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 139A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 139A.        -   Petiole.—Not present.-   Flower:-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering all year in Moshav    Mishmar Hashiva Israel.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Salverform, single with    fused petals.-   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last 3 to 6 days on    the plant. Self-Cleaning.-   Quantity of flowers: Approximately 20 per plant.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—Approximately 0.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Quantity.—5, fused.        -   Texture.—Smooth, highly glossy.        -   Apex.—Otuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74C Lower            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74C Lower            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D Flower throat (inside):            Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C Flower throat, vein: Near RHS            Red-Purple 70A Flower tube (outside): Near RHS Yellow-Green            145C Flower tube, vein: Near RHS Red-Purple 70A Petal color,            fading to: Near RHS Red-Purple N74C.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 74C.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.13 cm.        -   Apex.—Truncate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Lustrous.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 139A. Lower Surface:            Near RHS Green 139A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139A.        -   Orientation.—45 ° angle.-   Fragrance: None.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow 11A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 12A. Quantity: Abundant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Color: Near RHS Green            139C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Spherical Color: Near RHS Green 139C Ovary            Color: Near RHS Green 139A.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: Numerous minute, fruits, few seeds.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Petunia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 40 ° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia sensu Wijsman×Calibrachoallaveplant named ‘DANCALI3 ’ as herein illustrated and described.